Single Publication

Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team Two
Jared Hohn, Incident Commander

Current Situation: 

• The Badland Complex is 54,566 acres and 49% contained with 295 personnel assigned. 
•  Fire managers are using direct attack strategies, where firefighters are working very close to the active fire front on the Badland Complex. 
• The Coyote Fire is now 22,184 acres and 75% contained. Yesterday, crews continued patrolling the fire’s southern end. Firefighters are being moved to assist with work on the Thompson Fire. The remaining resources will continue to monitor the fire near the Powder River.
• The Thompson Fire is now 31,556 acres and 20% contained. Yesterday, smoke jumpers began to work across the northeastern perimeter toward Manning Creek Road, as Gila Hotshots and hand crews continued progress north toward Big Lookout Mountain. Both teams are being assisted by skidgines and will continue working toward each other today to complete containment line. This line will help stop the fire’s progress to the east, toward the Snake River.
• More firefighting resources continue to arrive and are being deployed to assist on the Thompson Fire. 
• The Powder Fire is 100% contained and is now in patrol status. 

Weather & Smoke Information:  Yesterday, a cold front moved into the area around 5 p.m., which brought wind gusts of up to 32 mph. The fire received less than a hundredth of an inch of rain. Tomorrow may bring occasional sprinkles, but very little lightning and no wetting rain. Northwest winds will be around 20 mph but will taper off in the afternoon. Temperatures will reach the upper 60s or lower 70s in the higher elevations and the 70s in the lower elevations.

An air quality advisory is in effect for Baker County due to heavy concentrations of wildfire smoke. For current Oregon air quality conditions, please visit https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map. 

Evacuations: Baker County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation orders for multiple areas of the fire. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064434892363. Sign up for Baker County emergency alerts at https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/publicUser.aspx?regionid=1357 

Closures: Check for highway closures at https://www.tripcheck.com/DynamicReports/Report/RoadConditions. All BLM Vale District Recreation Sites along the Snake River between Oxbow and Huntington and on Lookout Mountain are closed. This includes Spring Recreation Site, Swedes Landing, and Bassar Diggins Campground. 

Fire Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in effect. Get details at https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-07/orwa-fpo-val-071024.pdf.

Temporary Flight Restrictions:A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect over the fire area to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations. View a map of the TFR and details at https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_7614.html. Fire aviation response is halted or delayed if an unauthorized aircraft enters the TFR. Temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft systems or drones. If you fly, we can’t! Learn more about how to use drones safely and responsibly at Home - Know Before You Fly.

Fire Info Phone: 541-362-1507  Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Email: 2024.badlandcomplex@firenet.gov            .

Facebook: @BadlandsComplexFires2024  Media Line: 541-249-5894

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orvad-badland-complex-2024